Review by jimthorne2 -- Raven's Peak by Lincoln Cole

[jimthorne2]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Raven's Peak" by Lincoln Cole.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Raven’s Peak 
World on Fire, Book I
by
Lincoln Cole

Modern fiction too often ignores the invisible forces at work in the world. Not so with Lincoln Coles’s brilliant and incisive novel, which speaks in dramatic, boldly engaging dialogue. His work is radically attention catching, full of human interest and possesses page-turning momentum.

The novel opens with a scene of frustration, failure, deliverance and victory by a legendary warrior against evil. The writer then introduces an innocent, a hunter, and antagonists in an increasingly dramatic confrontation. The hunter, Abagail, moves the action to a small, beleaguered community called Raven’s Peak. In that small town, a powerful demon produces mayhem and madness that Abagail seeks to overcome by force and violence. She fails but the innocent, Haatim delivers her. He turns out to have the ability to conquer the antagonists by invisible weapons. They achieve victory over evil, and the story ends with an invitation to continue discovering the real world being confronted by a Council committed to saving the globe from the chaos of evil power.

This writer shows ability in describing personal frustrations almost to a fault. The Prologue begins with almost too much pain. The introduction of new people is arresting and includes just enough background to capture the reader’s interest. The momentum continues well into the tale, and an Interlude inserts a wayside stop to deepen the plot. There is a satisfying resolution to the conflict with a promise of more to come.

Haatim observes - “I didn’t stop believing in God. I stopped believing God is good,” (285) which is a good description of modern man’s dilemma regarding good and evil. I like this novel because it uses spiritual realities for fictional purposes. The dialogue is sharp, personal and provides continuing momentum for the story. The Christian view of God and understanding of demons reflects a reality usable for fiction.

Raven’s Peak raises an important issue – how does the spiritual realm impact the physical realm? The book suggests that there is a definite connection which we cannot avoid. In Chapter 17 Haatim says he tries to avoid evil because he sees it as standing by when you can help and not helping. His expression is a worthwhile way to address the issue of good and evil.

The Gospels in the New Testament often speak of demons and the ultimate fate of Satan as the personification of evil. L.S. Chafer’s Systematic Theology has a section on demonology that is succinct and sane. M. F. Unger’s Biblical Demonology is a classic still in print. More recently, a genre of literature has emerged featuring Satan and his demons. Cole is aware of these sources and uses them in this novel. The book affected me in a positive way. I like the attempt to address good and evil in a modern context with cell phones and laptops. My opinion about the spiritual issues involved did not change. My Christian commitment was not challenged but encouraged.

Lincoln Cole's Book, Raven’s Peak, is a real contribution to the mental and spiritual challenges of our modern age. It takes into account the way someone who is familiar with the current form of technological life and motivates one to consider the issue of good and evil. It is a bit scary but inserts a suitable wedge into the thinking that all too often divides the seen from the unseen. Perhaps the initial shock and continuing momentum of the novel will enlighten the reader. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I recommend that a particular kind of reader should read this book. A Christian with some doubts about the reality of accepting an evil world in which he lives will find this issue successfully addressed.

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Raven's Peak
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